The sports world is still buzzing over Sydney Sweeney's provocative new advertising campaign for Novig, a sports prediction market. The ad, which features the actress covered only by an assortment of sports balls and gear, has ignited a firestorm of criticism—and now a women's tennis player has stepped into the ring with her own powerful take.
Priscilla Hon, who reached the third round of the 2025 US Open, took to Instagram on Monday night to voice her concerns. While she made it clear she has no problem with Sweeney personally, Hon worries about the message the ad sends to the next generation of female athletes.
"Sydney Sweeney looks amazing, and honestly good for her. But this isn't about her or her body," Hon wrote. "Young girls already grow up feeling like they have to look a certain way. They're constantly being shown what the 'perfect' body is supposed to look like, and sport should be one of the places that teaches them their bodies are about what they can DO, not how they look. We should be showing the next generation that being strong, talented and capable is enough. They don't need another reason to believe their body is what makes them valuable."
Hon's words echo a growing chorus of athletes who are fed up with the oversexualization of women in sports. Olympic swimming gold medalist Ariarne Titmus didn't hold back over the weekend, posting, "I can't describe how infuriated I feel when I watch this. How do we live in a world where monetizing a woman's body and sexualizing women's sport is still a thing?"
Former U.S. gymnast Gracie Kramer also weighed in, saying, "I've spent my entire life competing in a sport where female athletes have been oversexualized, reduced to our bodies, and forced to fight to be taken seriously for what we can actually do."
The backlash isn't just about body image. Critics have also slammed Sweeney for promoting gambling right before the NFL season kicked off, arguing it sends a dangerous message to younger audiences. The billboard, which now looms over Times Square, has become a lightning rod for debates about the intersection of celebrity, sports, and money.
Sweeney, for her part, has defended the campaign, telling Complex, "I've always believed that the best partnerships are the ones where everyone's getting to collaborate. I don't like to just put my face on something. I really want to be able to get into the weeds of it with an amazing team. And I got to meet the Novig team."
But for Hon and others, the issue isn't about Sweeney's intent—it's about the impact. "We should be celebrating female athletes for their strength, their skill, and their dedication," Hon added. "Not for how they look in a pair of shorts or a sports bra."
This isn't the first time Sweeney's sports-related content has sparked controversy. Earlier this year, her bold new sports campaign turned heads, and a Playboy birthday tribute also raised eyebrows. The debate over her impact on women's sports continues to divide fans and athletes alike.
As the NFL season gets underway, the question remains: will Sweeney double down on her partnership with Novig, or will the backlash force a rethink? For now, Hon's message is clear—sport should be a place where young girls learn to love their bodies for what they can achieve, not what they look like.
